ODEON Luxe West End

A Modern Cinema Born from Historic Foundations

The ODEON Luxe West End occupies a site steeped in theatrical history, tracing its roots to 1930 when the Leicester Square Theatre first opened as a dual-purpose live theatre and cinema. Designed by architect Andrew Mather, the original venue featured 1,760 seats across stalls, dress circle, and balcony levels, complete with a Wurlitzer organ and polished black marble foyer. Over nearly nine decades, this location hosted countless world premieres and cultural moments, from the UK premiere of Mary Poppins in 1964 to the Royal Charity Premiere of Shalako in 1968, attended by Princess Margaret.

Transformation and Redevelopment

The cinema's journey took a significant turn in the early 2000s. After changing hands multiple times, including ownership by the Radisson Edwardian hotel group, the building closed as a cinema on 1 January 2015. What followed was a comprehensive transformation: extensive asbestos removal and complete demolition paved the way for an ambitious £300 million redevelopment project. The site was reimagined as part of The Londoner, a luxury boutique hotel featuring nine above-ground floors and six underground levels, with the cinema repositioned in the basement.

State-of-the-Art Cinema Technology

When the ODEON Luxe West End reopened in September 2021, it emerged as a showcase for the latest cinema innovations. The two-screen venue features a main auditorium equipped with Dolby Vision laser projection and Dolby Atmos immersive sound technology, establishing it as London's second Dolby Cinema. This technological sophistication ensures that films are presented with exceptional image clarity, colour accuracy, and spatial audio that envelops audiences in the cinematic experience. The intimate scale of the venue—with reduced seating compared to traditional multiplexes—emphasizes luxury and comfort over volume.

A Venue for Premieres and Festivals

True to its historical role, the ODEON Luxe West End continues to serve as a prestigious venue for film premieres and cultural events. The cinema hosted multiple venues for the BFI London Film Festival 2021 and has screened notable releases including the 2024 Dolby Cinema remaster of Les Misérables. The basement location, while underground, provides an intimate setting ideal for smaller, more exclusive premiere events and festival screenings, distinguishing it from the flagship ODEON Luxe Leicester Square across the square.

Integration with The Londoner Hotel

The cinema's integration within The Londoner hotel creates a unique hybrid experience. Guests and visitors can access the cinema from within the hotel's sophisticated environment, which includes multiple restaurants and bars, including the rooftop venue 8 at The Londoner and The Stage champagne bar. This architectural and operational integration reflects contemporary trends in experiential hospitality, where cinema-going becomes part of a broader cultural and dining destination rather than an isolated activity.